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===Synopsis===

[[Leofric, Earl of Mercia]] married a woman named Godgifu ("God's Gift") whose name has come down to us in legend as '''Lady Godiva'''. She is most famously known for her legendary ride while naked through Coventry to protest her husband's high taxes on the populace. That this could have actually occurred is very doubtful. It is not noted by any contemporary chronicler and it would have been quite newsworthy certainly. The story is first recited about 200 years after her probable death.

[[Leofric, Earl of Mercia]] married a woman named Godgifu ("God's Gift") whose name has come down to us in legend as '''Lady Godiva'''. She is most famously known for her legendary ride while naked through Coventry to protest her husband's high taxes on the populace. That this could have actually occurred is very doubtful. It is not noted by any contemporary chronicler and it would have been quite newsworthy certainly. The story is first recited about 200 years after her probable death.

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It is alleged that [[Aelfgar, Earl of Mercia|Aelfgar]] (who is known from the ASC entry below to be Leofric's son), was also Godgifu's son. Aelfgar was made Earl of East Anglia in 1051 (ASC 1051). He was outlawed and joined forces with [[Gruffydd, King of Wales|Gruffydd]] (ASC 1055). He was reconciled and restored to his earldom. He succeeded his father upon the later's death in 1057 (ASC 1057), but didn't enjoy his Earldom long. He was outlawed again and is said-to-have died in 1059.

It is alleged that [[Aelfgar, Earl of Mercia|Aelfgar]] (who is known from the ASC entry below to be Leofric's son), was also Godgifu's son. Aelfgar was made Earl of East Anglia in 1051 (ASC 1051). He was outlawed and joined forces with [[Gruffydd, King of Wales|Gruffydd]] (ASC 1055). He was reconciled and restored to his earldom. He succeeded his father upon the later's death in 1057 (ASC 1057), but didn't enjoy his Earldom long. He was outlawed again and is said-to-have died in 1059.

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Aelfgar is supposed to have had a daughter Ealdgyth (Edith) who is said-to-have married Gruffydd ap Llewellyn who was Ruler of Gwynedd and Powys from 1039 and eventually by 1055 King of all Wales, united under him. That there was an alliance between Aelfgar and Gruffydd is shown by the ASC entries, which however do not specifically mention a marriage, or any relationship between Aelgfar and Gruffydd.

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Aelfgar is supposed to have had two sons Edwin and Morcar and a daughter Ealdgyth (Edith) who is said-to-have married Gruffydd ap Llewellyn who was Ruler of Gwynedd and Powys from 1039 and eventually by 1055 King of all Wales, united under him. That there was an alliance between Aelfgar and Gruffydd is shown by the ASC entries, which however do not specifically mention a marriage, or any relationship between Aelgfar and Gruffydd.

Edith and Gruffydd's daughter Nest is said-to-be that Nest who is known to be the wife of Osbert FitzRichard. She is said to have been born in 1058 and gave birth to at least two children. All of this needs to be confirmed or denied by primary research.

Edith and Gruffydd's daughter Nest is said-to-be that Nest who is known to be the wife of Osbert FitzRichard. She is said to have been born in 1058 and gave birth to at least two children. All of this needs to be confirmed or denied by primary research.

**pg 159 : "The Laud Chronicle (E) &mdash; 1036 [1035] (footnote: E has misplaced the vacant annal for 1036) In this year Cnut passed away at Shaftesbury, and he is buried in the Old Minster, Winchester. Soon after his passing there was a meeting of all the councillors at Oxford, and earl Leofric and almost all the thanes to the north of the Thames, and [Cnut's] household troops in London, elected Harold as regent of all England...."

**pg 159 : "The Laud Chronicle (E) &mdash; 1036 [1035] (footnote: E has misplaced the vacant annal for 1036) In this year Cnut passed away at Shaftesbury, and he is buried in the Old Minster, Winchester. Soon after his passing there was a meeting of all the councillors at Oxford, and earl Leofric and almost all the thanes to the north of the Thames, and [Cnut's] household troops in London, elected Harold as regent of all England...."

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**pg 184 : "The Abingdon Chronicle (C) &mdash; 1055 "A short time after this there was a council in London, and earl Aelfgar, son of earl Leofric, was outlawed without having done anything to deserve his fate. Thereupon he went to Ireland, and added a force of eighteen ships to his own household troops, and sailed to king Gruffydd with that host; and he took him under his protection."

**pg 184 : "The Abingdon Chronicle (C) &mdash; 1055 "A short time after this there was a council in London, and earl Aelfgar, son of earl Leofric, was outlawed without having done anything to deserve his fate. Thereupon he went to Ireland, and added a force of eighteen ships to his own household troops, and sailed to king Gruffydd with that host; and he took him under his protection."

**pg 188 : "The Laud Chronicle (E) &mdash; 1057 "Earl Leofric passed away, and Aelfgar, his son, succeeded to the earldom which his father had had."

**pg 188 : "The Laud Chronicle (E) &mdash; 1057 "Earl Leofric passed away, and Aelfgar, his son, succeeded to the earldom which his father had had."

**[http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=charter&id=1223 Charter S1223] : "Leofric, comes, to Evesham Abbey...", stating possibly authentic, and dating 1033x1038. The PASE site states that "Godgifu his wife" is stated within the document as well.

**[http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=charter&id=1223 Charter S1223] : "Leofric, comes, to Evesham Abbey...", stating possibly authentic, and dating 1033x1038. The PASE site states that "Godgifu his wife" is stated within the document as well.

**"Aelfgar the Earl's son ('Alfger þe Erles sune') appears as a witness in ASC document S1531 (Will of Thurstan, son of Wine) dated (1043 x 1045) - noted as probably authentic. Unless it can be shown this is not earl Leofric's son, it would be the earliest record for him [http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+1531 Citation]. He is also a witness as 'Aelfgar nobilis' in the 'probably authentic' S1019 (dated to 1049) which his father 'Leofric dux' as well as 'Godwine dux' and 'Harold dux' also witnessed [http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+1019 Citation]. The 1049 date suggests that assigning him an earldom before then is probably incorrect, and that Florence is probably right in dating the start of Aelfgar's 'temporary' earlship to Sep 1051 (after Godwine had fled to Flanders).

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**"ASC document S1042 (20/24 May 1065) - noted as probably authentic - may be the earliest mention of son Eadwine as earl - 'Eadwine dux'. This record would also prove that Morcar had not yet been named to replace earl Tostig/Tosti. [http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+1042 Citation]. This is consistent with ASC's statement that Morcar/Morkar was named earl 'the eve of St. Simon's and St. Jude's mass' in 1965 [http://books.google.com/books?id=4jEIAAAAQAAJ&pg=coverpage#PPA438,M1 citation], which Florence dates to 28 Oct 1065 [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&pg=RA1-PA486&vq=godiva#PRA1-PA167,M1 Citation]

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**"If one presumes that Aelfgar's sons Eadwine and Morcar were both of age when acting as earls in 1065 (one being of course older), and that dau Aeldgyth/Ealdgyth was a mother abt 1057, Aelfgar was prob a father and m. by 1040 if not earlier. If Aelfgar was the witness to the 1045 will (which presumably required him to be of age), that suggests he was b. at least by 1025. He was d. bef 20/24 May 1065, when his son Eadwine had succeeded him as earl.

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**If one instead accepts the suggestion that Eadwine and Morcar were mere 16 and 18 year-old teenagers when named earls (proof not seen), they would have been b. as late as 1046 and 1048. This could move Aelfgar's marriage date closer to 1045 dependant on the birthdate presumed for Ealdgyth. The brothers would then be 17 and 19 when Florence writes that on the eve of 20 Sep 1066, "before the king's arrival, the two brothers, Edwin and Morcar, at the head of a large army, fought a battle with the Norwegians on the northern bank of the river Ouse, near York.". If they were indeed brash young teenagers who wouldn't take advice from anyone, that could explain why they lost that battle. 5 days later, Harold defeated the same enemy at Stanford Bridge. Killing, among others, 'earl Tosti', the man whose earldom of Northumbria had been granted Morcar les than a year earlier."

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==="Florence" (John) of Worcester===

*[http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, with the Two Continuations], Thomas Forester (tr). (1854) H. G. Bohn 512 pages. Firstly we need to show that Lady Godiva is mentioned only once in this work, see this [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&pg=RA1-PA486&vq=godiva index page]. Turning to that page, I find [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&pg=RA1-PA159&vq=godiva page 159] : "[A.D. 1057] ...The renowned Leofric, son of the ealdorman Leofwine, of blessed memory, died in a good old age, at his own vill of Bromley, on the second of the calends of September [31st August], and was buried with great pomp at Coventry; which monastery, among the other good deeds of his life, he and his wife, the noble countess Godiva, a worshipper of God, and devoted friend of St. Mary, Ever-a-Virgin, had founded, and amply endowing it with lands on their own patrimony, had so enriched with all kinds of ornament, that no monastery could be found in England possessed of such abundance of gold....His son Algar was appointed to his earldom.

*[http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, with the Two Continuations], Thomas Forester (tr). (1854) H. G. Bohn 512 pages. Firstly we need to show that Lady Godiva is mentioned only once in this work, see this [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&pg=RA1-PA486&vq=godiva index page]. Turning to that page, I find [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&pg=RA1-PA159&vq=godiva page 159] : "[A.D. 1057] ...The renowned Leofric, son of the ealdorman Leofwine, of blessed memory, died in a good old age, at his own vill of Bromley, on the second of the calends of September [31st August], and was buried with great pomp at Coventry; which monastery, among the other good deeds of his life, he and his wife, the noble countess Godiva, a worshipper of God, and devoted friend of St. Mary, Ever-a-Virgin, had founded, and amply endowing it with lands on their own patrimony, had so enriched with all kinds of ornament, that no monastery could be found in England possessed of such abundance of gold....His son Algar was appointed to his earldom.

**p. 170 "Harold reigned nine months and as many days. The earls Edwin and Morcar, who had withdrawn with their troops from the battle on hearing that he was dead, went off to London, and sent off their sister, queen Elgitha, to Chester . . [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&printsec=frontcover&ots=w8oeIPDK6X&sig=neyQXj1xQta#PRA1-PA170,M1 The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, Page 170]

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**p. 456 "By his choice and gift, he [Edward King of England] was succeeded by earl Harold, son of Godwin earl of Wessex, by Gytha, sister of Sweyn, king of Denmark, father of St. Canute, the martyr. He [king Harold] had a son named Harold by his queen Aldgitha, daughter of earl Algar: the same year he fell in battle with William earl of Normandy, who succeeded him in the kingdom." [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&printsec=frontcover&ots=w8oeIPDK6X&sig=neyQXj1xQta#PRA1-PA456,M1 The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, Page 456]

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*Terry Booth in a posting to Gen-Med states : "Florence's statements on Godwine's banishment abt Sep 1051 are [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&pg=RA1-PA486&vq=godiva#PRA1-PA152,M1 here] and on the preceding page. Florence's statements on Godwine's restoration 'to his former honors' abt 15 Sep 1052 are : [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpR0iz5GjYgC&pg=RA1-PA486&vq=godiva#PRA1-PA154,M1 here]. Malmesbury's statement is "Godwin and Sweyn retired to Flanders, and Harold to Ireland. His [Godwin's] earldom was given to Elgar, the son of Leofric, a man of active habits; who, receiving, governed it with ability, and readily restored it to him [Godwin] upon his return; and afterwards, on the death of Godwin, when Harold had obtained the dukedom of his father, he reclaimed it, though, by the accusation of his enemies, he was banished for a time." See [http://books.google.com/books?id=W2ANAAAAIAAJ&pg=coverpage#PPA220,M1 here]"

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===Domesday===

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*Terry Booth points out that there are "...several Domesday entries which says Aelfgifu mother of Earl Morcar" like [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?queryType=1&resultcount=1&Edoc_Id=7579161 this one]

<blockquote>"While we can't prove her b. and m. dates, Domesday Book provides proof she d. aft 14 Oct 1066 Battle of Hastings. "[Nottingham Domesday], i, 249r (11-37) Robert of Stafford; Madeley (in Checkley). TRW Robert of Stafford holds a half hide in Madeley, and Wulfheah holds from him. Godgifu held it TRE. She even held it after the coming of King William into England, but she could not withdraw from her land." If the translation can be trusted, this proves she d. after Harold's death at Hastings. The statement also proves her ownership status was sharply reduced after the conquest (suggesting her lands had been confiscated). See [http://books.google.com/books?id=YpI9-3hPiYkC&pg=PA454&dq=godgifu+1066+domesday&sig=6xVYj7YZMsv1rzxKfyggzMQjFtg#PPA240,M1 link]</blockquote>

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<blockquote>The Lincolnshire Domesday Book starts with a notable statement of the king's special laws (and 1086 real estate tax rate) applicable to all properties in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. It also has this very important statement "Here is noted who had [i.e. TRE] soke and sake and toll and team and the king's custom of two pennies [i.e. full property rights]; the Archbishop of York over his manors; the Countess Godgifu over Newark Wapentake; Ulf Fenisc over his land; the Abbot of Perborough over Collingham; the Abbot of Burton; Earl Hugh over Markheaton (Derbysh.); the Bishop of Chester; Toki; Swein son of Svavic; Siward Barn; Wulfric Cild; Alsige of Illing; Leofwine son of ASlwine; Azur son of Svala; Countess Aelfgifu; Countess Gode; Alsige son of Karski over Worksop; Henry de Ferrers over Ednaston [Derbysh],Doveridge [Derbysh]and Brailsford [Derbysh]; Walter d'Aincourt over Branby, Morton [Derbysh] and Pilsley (in North Wingfield) [Derbysh]; [total of 19 owners with some interesting associations]. Of these, none could have the earl's [presumably earl Harold, who was never identified as king in Domesday] third penny TRE, unless by his consent, and that for as long as he should live, except for the Archbishop of York, Ulf Fenisc and Countess Godgifu." This proves Godgifu survived her son Aelfgar, and that she held superior rights to every other property owner except two - the Archbishop of York and Ulf Fenisc. [Related question - who was Ulf Fenisc to be so highly ranked?] To hold the earl's third pennie would seem to date the record to the short-lived reign of 'earl' Harold. Aelfgar's widow, Countess Aelfgifu, is also proven to be alive on the date of this record. See [http://books.google.com/books?id=YpI9-3hPiYkC&pg=PA454&dq=godgifu+1066+domesday&sig=6xVYj7YZMsv1rzxKfyggzMQjFtg#PPA217,M1. link]"</blockquote>

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===Orderic Vitalis===

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*John P Ravilous in a posting to Gen-Med 16 Aug 2007 quotes Orderic Vitalis : 'Earl AElfgar built a monastery at Coventry...... And Godiva, his pious countess, lavished all her treasure upon the church: sending for goldsmiths she gave them her whole store of gold..... These parents, so devoted to God and beneficent to the church, had a progeny both fair and greatly to be praised: Edwin, Morcar, and one daughter called Edith, who married first Gruffydd king of the Welsh and after his death Harold king of England.' [Chibnall, ed. The Ecclesiatical History of Orderic Vitalis, Book IV, p. 217.] And then John goes on to say :"Orderic was wrong on several details to be sure (Godiva as countess of AElfgar is somewhat noticeable). Sorting out what is wrong from what is correct is an issue; see Part III, p. 139, where Orderic previously stated of Harold and his dealings with Edwin and Morcar, that 'he had taken to wife their sister Edith. She had formerly been the wife of Gruffydd, a great Welsh prince, and had born him Bleddyn the heir to the throne and a daughter called Nest.' Bleddyn was a successor to Gruffydd, but was Gruffydd's half-brother and not his son. The statement there was a daughter Nest does ring true, given what (little) we know of the first generations of the descendants of Gruffydd and Ealdgyth."

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*Clive West in a posting to Gen-Med 22 Aug 2007 quote Orderic Vitalis : "The Earls Edwin and Morcar, sons of the great Earl Aelfgar, were close friends and adherents of Harold (Godwin) and gave him help in their power; for he had taken to wife their sister Aldgyth. She had formerly been the wife of Gruffydd, a great Welsh prince and had born him Bleddyn and a daughter called Nest." (Historia Ecclesiastica Book III)

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===William of Jumieges===

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**John P Ravilous in a posting to Gen-Med 16 Aug 2007 states : "In addition to Orderic Vitalis, we also have a statement by William of Jumièges concerning the parentage and marriages of Ealdyth. E. A. Freeman quoted William of Jumièges (vii. 31) in stating that Harold Godwinsson married Aldith, daughter of Earl Al[f]gar, after the death of her 1st husband Gruffydd: "Grithfridi quoque conjugem Aldith, praeclari Comitis Algari filiam, sibi uxorem junxit. " [E. A. Freeman, The History of the Norman Conquest of England (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1870), II:659]

**(In the time of Abbot Leofric, in the reign of Canute, there was a certain woman named Godiva, widow of an earl, who after his death divided her possessions amongst churches so that they might partake in her merits before God. She often attended the prayer vigils for Aethelthryth, bride of the lord Jesus, and from the amenity of the place and the devotion of the monks increased in her very great love for them, out of which she gave some lands that she held in her own right, special properties, to those serving the blessed Virgin and God in that house, and confirmed this in her testament, written in English; the names of these estates are recorded here: (High) Easter, (South) Fambridge, Terling [all in Essex].)

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**Blake noted that "If the references to Abbot Leofric and Cnut are correct the bequest must have been made between c.1022 and c.1029 and this cannot be the famous Godgifu, the wife of Earl Leofric of Mercia, as he did not die before 1057, nor the Godgifu, wife of Earl Siward". However, _Liber Eliensis_ was composed late in the 12th century, so that accuracy of chronological detail long before is hardly to be expected.

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**There is no other reference to an earl's widow named Godiva in the text, and none at all to Earl Leofric. However see next

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Peter Stewart posting to Gen-Med 25 Aug 2007 states : "...the same woman with a devotion to the nun Ætheldreth is clearly the subject of a second chapter, no. 83 in book 2 (page 151), as follows:

<blockquote>(Then it remains to establish how the Lord's faithful Godiva greeted Bishop

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Ælfric and Abbot Leofric of Ely in writing, and what she determined to lay

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before them with regard to her salvation. She expressed herself thus: O my

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lords, I, an unhappy woman, with however little prescience I have exerted

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myself to save my soul, now that the time of my death is near, since making

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amends is allowed me, I put to your reverences what I am arranging to be

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done with my possessions and what I am bequeathing to my lady the most holy

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virgin Ætheldreth in Ely. This is, the estate of Barking, which is mine by

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right of parental inheritance, is granted in perpetuity, in order that my

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memory may be held amongst them always). </blockquote>

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*"Blake noted to this passage, "Perhaps the same as the Godgifu of ch. 81" -

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this seems more than likely to me - "The bishop is probably Ælfric II of

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Elmham who succeeded sometime after 1022 and died in 1038...and the outer

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limits for the date of this bequest are no more closely defined than by the

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probable dates of Leofric's tenure of the abbacy 1022 x 1029".

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*"Given the specific indications twice over that this Godiva lived in the time

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of Abbot Leofric, and the account that she wrote to him and to a named

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bishop who was dead in 1038, it appears that Godiva the countess of Earl

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Leofric of Mercia cannot be the woman in question. The late 12th-century

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monk was probably taking his information from records, copies or originals,

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held in the abbey, including this lady's will that he mentioned as written

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in English and perhaps her letter that if quoted directly was a separate

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document, or maybe a translation prepared for her in Latin because it was

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intended for important churchmen and not for her family.

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*"It's also possible that this Godiva was childless, since "infelix" used by

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women can mean "barren" as well as "unhappy", and that might make sense in

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the context of her testament, although describing oneself as miserable over

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not being better prepared spiritually for the afterlife was conventional. "

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*Note: that the combination : Easter, Fambridge and Terling is also represented in that same sequence on the spurious charter S1051 [http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=find&type=charter&page=&archive=&kingdom=&king=&sawyer=&text=Terling&display=JUST_BLURB here] (wsj)

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*Terry Booth, in a posting to Gen-Med 2 Sep 2007 states : "The person referred to in the Godgifu 'Liber Eliensis' record may be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Etheldreda St. Æthelthryth of Ely], from whose worship apparently derives the word 'tawdry'. The following Domesday record also suggests that Godgifu of Ely may have survived to the time of King Edward, since she would seem a match to this Rendlesham, Suffolk property owned by Hervey de Bourges TRW.

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<blockquote>Godgifu, a free woman commended half to St Æthelthryth [of Ely] and half to Eadric of Laxfield , held Rendlesham with 60 acres as a manor. Then 2 ploughs, now 1; 2 acres of meadow. 1 villan. Then as now worth 20s. 1 free man and half a [free man] under the same commendation [held] 10 acres and half a plough in the same valuation. Bernard d'Alençon holds this from Hervey [de Bourges]. William [Malet] was seised thereof on the day on which he died. It is 1 league long and a half broad. In geld 14d. (from Little Domesday, Folio 443v). [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?queryType=1&resultcount=1&Edoc_Id=7611047 Link]</blockquote>

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**An alternate translation of this same record, from 'Domesday Book and the Law', Robin Flemming; 1998; Cambridge, page 444 reads : "Hervey de Bourges, Rendlesham. TRE Godgifu, a free woman half commended to Ely and half to Eadric of Laxfield, held sixty acres of land in Rendlesham. Now Bernard d'Alencon holds it from Hervey de Bourges. William Malet was seized [of it] on the day he died."

**DNB is Dictionary of National Biography. The article 2, 376 is "Bernard (fl 1093) of Neufmarche" which I extract, in part, next.

**DNB is Dictionary of National Biography. The article 2, 376 is "Bernard (fl 1093) of Neufmarche" which I extract, in part, next.

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**NGSQ is the National Genealogical Society Quarterly fully-cited on this page far below

**NGSQ is the National Genealogical Society Quarterly fully-cited on this page far below

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*[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/anglo-saxon/flowers/godiva.html "Lady Godiva"], by Aelius_Stilo@yahoo.com, at Encyclopaedia Romana online. Among other things they claim the Chronicle ascribed to Florence was actually writen by John of Worcester from 1124 to 1140 instead of Florence who died 1118. This attribution would allow relaxing her dates, since she could be as much as a generation younger than previously thought.<blockquote>"Among his other good deeds in this life, he and his wife, the noble countess Godgiva, who was a devout worshipper of God, and one who loved the ever-virgin St. Mary, entirely constructed at their own cost the monastery there [Coventry], well endowed it with land, and enriched it with ornaments to such an extent, that no monastery could be then found in England possessing so much gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones." The Chronicle of John of Worcester: The Annals from 450 to 1066 (1995) edited by R. R. Darlington and P. McGurk, translated by Jennifer Bray and P. McGurk (Oxford Medieval Texts)</blockquote>

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*James Grout, [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/anglo-saxon/flowers/godiva.html "Lady Godiva," part of the Encyclopaedia Romana]. Which, among other things claims the Chronicle ascribed to Florence was actually writen by John of Worcester from 1124 to 1140 instead of Florence who died 1118. This attribution would allow relaxing her dates, since she could be as much as a generation younger than previously thought.<blockquote>"Among his other good deeds in this life, he and his wife, the noble countess Godgiva, who was a devout worshipper of God, and one who loved the ever-virgin St. Mary, entirely constructed at their own cost the monastery there [Coventry], well endowed it with land, and enriched it with ornaments to such an extent, that no monastery could be then found in England possessing so much gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones." The Chronicle of John of Worcester: The Annals from 450 to 1066 (1995) edited by R. R. Darlington and P. McGurk, translated by Jennifer Bray and P. McGurk (Oxford Medieval Texts)</blockquote>

*The 1985 EB has this to say<blockquote>fl c 1040-1080, Anglo-Saxon gentlewoman famous for her legendary ride while nude through Coventry, Warwickshire</blockquote><blockquote>Godiva was the wife of Leofric, earl of Mercia, with whom she founded and endowed a monastery at Coventry. The chronicler Florence of Worcester (d. 1118) mentions Leofric and Godiva with respect, but does not refer to the ride. There is no evidence connecting the rider with the historical Godiva.</blockquote><blockquote>The earliest extant source for the story is the 'Chronica' (under the year 1057) of Roger of Wendover (d. 1236). He recounts that her husband, in exasperation over her ceaseless imploring that he reduce Coventry's heavy taxes, declared that he would so if she rode naked through the croweded marketplace. She did so, her hair covering all of her body except her legs. Ranulf Higdon (d.1364) in his 'Polychronicon', says that as a result Leofric freed the town from all tolls save those on horses. An inquiry made in the reign of Edward I shows that at the time no tolls were paid in Coventry except on horses. A later chronicle assets that Godiva required the townsmen to remain indoors at the time fixed for her ride. Peeping Tom, a citizen who looked out his window, apparently became a part of the legend in the 17th century. In most accounts he was struck blind or dead.</blockquote>

*The 1985 EB has this to say<blockquote>fl c 1040-1080, Anglo-Saxon gentlewoman famous for her legendary ride while nude through Coventry, Warwickshire</blockquote><blockquote>Godiva was the wife of Leofric, earl of Mercia, with whom she founded and endowed a monastery at Coventry. The chronicler Florence of Worcester (d. 1118) mentions Leofric and Godiva with respect, but does not refer to the ride. There is no evidence connecting the rider with the historical Godiva.</blockquote><blockquote>The earliest extant source for the story is the 'Chronica' (under the year 1057) of Roger of Wendover (d. 1236). He recounts that her husband, in exasperation over her ceaseless imploring that he reduce Coventry's heavy taxes, declared that he would so if she rode naked through the croweded marketplace. She did so, her hair covering all of her body except her legs. Ranulf Higdon (d.1364) in his 'Polychronicon', says that as a result Leofric freed the town from all tolls save those on horses. An inquiry made in the reign of Edward I shows that at the time no tolls were paid in Coventry except on horses. A later chronicle assets that Godiva required the townsmen to remain indoors at the time fixed for her ride. Peeping Tom, a citizen who looked out his window, apparently became a part of the legend in the 17th century. In most accounts he was struck blind or dead.</blockquote>

Line 54:

Line 164:

*Schwennicke ES Vol II,78 states : "King Harold II, married 1065 Ealdgyth of Mercia. widow of Griffith ap Llywelyn, king of Gwyned and Powis, daughter of Earl Alfgar. Then it gives the children of Harold II but they are by Eadgyth Swannesha." [courtesy of Leo van de Pas]

*Schwennicke ES Vol II,78 states : "King Harold II, married 1065 Ealdgyth of Mercia. widow of Griffith ap Llywelyn, king of Gwyned and Powis, daughter of Earl Alfgar. Then it gives the children of Harold II but they are by Eadgyth Swannesha." [courtesy of Leo van de Pas]

−

*''History of the Norman Conquest'', by Edward Augustus Freeman is online in Google Books. Volume VI is an index of the rest of the set and in particular we can see here on [http://books.google.com/books?id=NWENAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0sT52LcaIY_XYHZJ64TWlXJ#PPA104,M1 page 104] that there are ten references to Godiva

+

*''History of the Norman Conquest'', by Edward Augustus Freeman is online in Google Books. Volume VI is an index of the rest of the set and in particular we can see here on [http://books.google.com/books?id=NWENAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0sT52LcaIY_XYHZJ64TWlXJ#PPA104,M1 page 104] that there are ten references to Godiva:

+

**[http://books.google.com/books?id=TmINAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0sT52LcaIY_XYHZJ64TWlXJ#PPA189,M1 Freeman] citing Domesday 244, 244b states "Two women hold lands in "alms" Eadgyth who kept her own estate, and Leofgifu the nun, whose lands had been held T.R.E. by Godgifu, the widow of Leofric"

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*Paulvheath recommends in a posting to Gen-Medieval 14 Aug 2007 the book "Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings and Nobles" by W G Searle (1899), stating "He summarized the information known about Anglo-Saxon genealogies up to that time and carefully cited his sources, which can therefore be checked."

*Paulvheath recommends in a posting to Gen-Medieval 14 Aug 2007 the book "Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings and Nobles" by W G Searle (1899), stating "He summarized the information known about Anglo-Saxon genealogies up to that time and carefully cited his sources, which can therefore be checked."

Latest revision as of 01:03, 25 January 2010

Lady Godiva, real and semi-mythical figure from early England

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Leofric, Earl of Mercia married a woman named Godgifu ("God's Gift") whose name has come down to us in legend as Lady Godiva. She is most famously known for her legendary ride while naked through Coventry to protest her husband's high taxes on the populace. That this could have actually occurred is very doubtful. It is not noted by any contemporary chronicler and it would have been quite newsworthy certainly. The story is first recited about 200 years after her probable death.

Some sources say that Leofric and Godiva founded the monastery at Coventry, others that they expanded one which was already there.

It is alleged that Aelfgar (who is known from the ASC entry below to be Leofric's son), was also Godgifu's son. Aelfgar was made Earl of East Anglia in 1051 (ASC 1051). He was outlawed and joined forces with Gruffydd (ASC 1055). He was reconciled and restored to his earldom. He succeeded his father upon the later's death in 1057 (ASC 1057), but didn't enjoy his Earldom long. He was outlawed again and is said-to-have died in 1059.

Aelfgar is supposed to have had two sons Edwin and Morcar and a daughter Ealdgyth (Edith) who is said-to-have married Gruffydd ap Llewellyn who was Ruler of Gwynedd and Powys from 1039 and eventually by 1055 King of all Wales, united under him. That there was an alliance between Aelfgar and Gruffydd is shown by the ASC entries, which however do not specifically mention a marriage, or any relationship between Aelgfar and Gruffydd.

Edith and Gruffydd's daughter Nest is said-to-be that Nest who is known to be the wife of Osbert FitzRichard. She is said to have been born in 1058 and gave birth to at least two children. All of this needs to be confirmed or denied by primary research.

pg 159 : "The Laud Chronicle (E) — 1036 [1035] (footnote: E has misplaced the vacant annal for 1036) In this year Cnut passed away at Shaftesbury, and he is buried in the Old Minster, Winchester. Soon after his passing there was a meeting of all the councillors at Oxford, and earl Leofric and almost all the thanes to the north of the Thames, and [Cnut's] household troops in London, elected Harold as regent of all England...."

pg 163 : "The Worcester Chronicle (D) — 1043 In this year Edward was consecrated king at Wincester on the first day of Easter. And in the same year, a fortnight before St Andrew's day, the king was advised to ride from Gloucester, and [with] earl Leofric and earl Godwine and earl Siward and their band came to Winchester...."

pg 174 : "The Laud Chronicle (E) — 1048[1051] ...Earl Siward and earl Leofric and many people with them from the north had come there to the king...."

pg 175 : "The Worcester Chronicle (D) — 1052 "...He sent then for earl Leofric and north for earl Siward and asked for troops from them."

pg 177 : "The Laud Chronicle (E) — 1048 [1051] "And then Odda was appointed earl over Devon, and over Somerset, and over Dorset, and over Cornwall; and Aelfgar, earl Leofric's son, was given the earldom which Harold had had."

pg 184 : "The Abingdon Chronicle (C) — 1055 "A short time after this there was a council in London, and earl Aelfgar, son of earl Leofric, was outlawed without having done anything to deserve his fate. Thereupon he went to Ireland, and added a force of eighteen ships to his own household troops, and sailed to king Gruffydd with that host; and he took him under his protection."

pg 188 : "The Laud Chronicle (E) — 1057 "Earl Leofric passed away, and Aelfgar, his son, succeeded to the earldom which his father had had."

"Aelfgar the Earl's son ('Alfger þe Erles sune') appears as a witness in ASC document S1531 (Will of Thurstan, son of Wine) dated (1043 x 1045) - noted as probably authentic. Unless it can be shown this is not earl Leofric's son, it would be the earliest record for him Citation. He is also a witness as 'Aelfgar nobilis' in the 'probably authentic' S1019 (dated to 1049) which his father 'Leofric dux' as well as 'Godwine dux' and 'Harold dux' also witnessed Citation. The 1049 date suggests that assigning him an earldom before then is probably incorrect, and that Florence is probably right in dating the start of Aelfgar's 'temporary' earlship to Sep 1051 (after Godwine had fled to Flanders).

"ASC document S1042 (20/24 May 1065) - noted as probably authentic - may be the earliest mention of son Eadwine as earl - 'Eadwine dux'. This record would also prove that Morcar had not yet been named to replace earl Tostig/Tosti. Citation. This is consistent with ASC's statement that Morcar/Morkar was named earl 'the eve of St. Simon's and St. Jude's mass' in 1965 citation, which Florence dates to 28 Oct 1065 Citation

"If one presumes that Aelfgar's sons Eadwine and Morcar were both of age when acting as earls in 1065 (one being of course older), and that dau Aeldgyth/Ealdgyth was a mother abt 1057, Aelfgar was prob a father and m. by 1040 if not earlier. If Aelfgar was the witness to the 1045 will (which presumably required him to be of age), that suggests he was b. at least by 1025. He was d. bef 20/24 May 1065, when his son Eadwine had succeeded him as earl.

If one instead accepts the suggestion that Eadwine and Morcar were mere 16 and 18 year-old teenagers when named earls (proof not seen), they would have been b. as late as 1046 and 1048. This could move Aelfgar's marriage date closer to 1045 dependant on the birthdate presumed for Ealdgyth. The brothers would then be 17 and 19 when Florence writes that on the eve of 20 Sep 1066, "before the king's arrival, the two brothers, Edwin and Morcar, at the head of a large army, fought a battle with the Norwegians on the northern bank of the river Ouse, near York.". If they were indeed brash young teenagers who wouldn't take advice from anyone, that could explain why they lost that battle. 5 days later, Harold defeated the same enemy at Stanford Bridge. Killing, among others, 'earl Tosti', the man whose earldom of Northumbria had been granted Morcar les than a year earlier."

The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, with the Two Continuations, Thomas Forester (tr). (1854) H. G. Bohn 512 pages. Firstly we need to show that Lady Godiva is mentioned only once in this work, see this index page. Turning to that page, I find page 159 : "[A.D. 1057] ...The renowned Leofric, son of the ealdorman Leofwine, of blessed memory, died in a good old age, at his own vill of Bromley, on the second of the calends of September [31st August], and was buried with great pomp at Coventry; which monastery, among the other good deeds of his life, he and his wife, the noble countess Godiva, a worshipper of God, and devoted friend of St. Mary, Ever-a-Virgin, had founded, and amply endowing it with lands on their own patrimony, had so enriched with all kinds of ornament, that no monastery could be found in England possessed of such abundance of gold....His son Algar was appointed to his earldom.

Terry Booth in an e-mail to me provides this :

p. 170 "Harold reigned nine months and as many days. The earls Edwin and Morcar, who had withdrawn with their troops from the battle on hearing that he was dead, went off to London, and sent off their sister, queen Elgitha, to Chester . . The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, Page 170

p. 456 "By his choice and gift, he [Edward King of England] was succeeded by earl Harold, son of Godwin earl of Wessex, by Gytha, sister of Sweyn, king of Denmark, father of St. Canute, the martyr. He [king Harold] had a son named Harold by his queen Aldgitha, daughter of earl Algar: the same year he fell in battle with William earl of Normandy, who succeeded him in the kingdom." The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, Page 456

Terry Booth in a posting to Gen-Med states : "Florence's statements on Godwine's banishment abt Sep 1051 are here and on the preceding page. Florence's statements on Godwine's restoration 'to his former honors' abt 15 Sep 1052 are : here. Malmesbury's statement is "Godwin and Sweyn retired to Flanders, and Harold to Ireland. His [Godwin's] earldom was given to Elgar, the son of Leofric, a man of active habits; who, receiving, governed it with ability, and readily restored it to him [Godwin] upon his return; and afterwards, on the death of Godwin, when Harold had obtained the dukedom of his father, he reclaimed it, though, by the accusation of his enemies, he was banished for a time." See here"

"While we can't prove her b. and m. dates, Domesday Book provides proof she d. aft 14 Oct 1066 Battle of Hastings. "[Nottingham Domesday], i, 249r (11-37) Robert of Stafford; Madeley (in Checkley). TRW Robert of Stafford holds a half hide in Madeley, and Wulfheah holds from him. Godgifu held it TRE. She even held it after the coming of King William into England, but she could not withdraw from her land." If the translation can be trusted, this proves she d. after Harold's death at Hastings. The statement also proves her ownership status was sharply reduced after the conquest (suggesting her lands had been confiscated). See link

The Lincolnshire Domesday Book starts with a notable statement of the king's special laws (and 1086 real estate tax rate) applicable to all properties in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. It also has this very important statement "Here is noted who had [i.e. TRE] soke and sake and toll and team and the king's custom of two pennies [i.e. full property rights]; the Archbishop of York over his manors; the Countess Godgifu over Newark Wapentake; Ulf Fenisc over his land; the Abbot of Perborough over Collingham; the Abbot of Burton; Earl Hugh over Markheaton (Derbysh.); the Bishop of Chester; Toki; Swein son of Svavic; Siward Barn; Wulfric Cild; Alsige of Illing; Leofwine son of ASlwine; Azur son of Svala; Countess Aelfgifu; Countess Gode; Alsige son of Karski over Worksop; Henry de Ferrers over Ednaston [Derbysh],Doveridge [Derbysh]and Brailsford [Derbysh]; Walter d'Aincourt over Branby, Morton [Derbysh] and Pilsley (in North Wingfield) [Derbysh]; [total of 19 owners with some interesting associations]. Of these, none could have the earl's [presumably earl Harold, who was never identified as king in Domesday] third penny TRE, unless by his consent, and that for as long as he should live, except for the Archbishop of York, Ulf Fenisc and Countess Godgifu." This proves Godgifu survived her son Aelfgar, and that she held superior rights to every other property owner except two - the Archbishop of York and Ulf Fenisc. [Related question - who was Ulf Fenisc to be so highly ranked?] To hold the earl's third pennie would seem to date the record to the short-lived reign of 'earl' Harold. Aelfgar's widow, Countess Aelfgifu, is also proven to be alive on the date of this record. See link"

John P Ravilous in a posting to Gen-Med 16 Aug 2007 quotes Orderic Vitalis : 'Earl AElfgar built a monastery at Coventry...... And Godiva, his pious countess, lavished all her treasure upon the church: sending for goldsmiths she gave them her whole store of gold..... These parents, so devoted to God and beneficent to the church, had a progeny both fair and greatly to be praised: Edwin, Morcar, and one daughter called Edith, who married first Gruffydd king of the Welsh and after his death Harold king of England.' [Chibnall, ed. The Ecclesiatical History of Orderic Vitalis, Book IV, p. 217.] And then John goes on to say :"Orderic was wrong on several details to be sure (Godiva as countess of AElfgar is somewhat noticeable). Sorting out what is wrong from what is correct is an issue; see Part III, p. 139, where Orderic previously stated of Harold and his dealings with Edwin and Morcar, that 'he had taken to wife their sister Edith. She had formerly been the wife of Gruffydd, a great Welsh prince, and had born him Bleddyn the heir to the throne and a daughter called Nest.' Bleddyn was a successor to Gruffydd, but was Gruffydd's half-brother and not his son. The statement there was a daughter Nest does ring true, given what (little) we know of the first generations of the descendants of Gruffydd and Ealdgyth."

Clive West in a posting to Gen-Med 22 Aug 2007 quote Orderic Vitalis : "The Earls Edwin and Morcar, sons of the great Earl Aelfgar, were close friends and adherents of Harold (Godwin) and gave him help in their power; for he had taken to wife their sister Aldgyth. She had formerly been the wife of Gruffydd, a great Welsh prince and had born him Bleddyn and a daughter called Nest." (Historia Ecclesiastica Book III)

John P Ravilous in a posting to Gen-Med 16 Aug 2007 states : "In addition to Orderic Vitalis, we also have a statement by William of Jumièges concerning the parentage and marriages of Ealdyth. E. A. Freeman quoted William of Jumièges (vii. 31) in stating that Harold Godwinsson married Aldith, daughter of Earl Al[f]gar, after the death of her 1st husband Gruffydd: "Grithfridi quoque conjugem Aldith, praeclari Comitis Algari filiam, sibi uxorem junxit. " [E. A. Freeman, The History of the Norman Conquest of England (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1870), II:659]

(In the time of Abbot Leofric, in the reign of Canute, there was a certain woman named Godiva, widow of an earl, who after his death divided her possessions amongst churches so that they might partake in her merits before God. She often attended the prayer vigils for Aethelthryth, bride of the lord Jesus, and from the amenity of the place and the devotion of the monks increased in her very great love for them, out of which she gave some lands that she held in her own right, special properties, to those serving the blessed Virgin and God in that house, and confirmed this in her testament, written in English; the names of these estates are recorded here: (High) Easter, (South) Fambridge, Terling [all in Essex].)

Blake noted that "If the references to Abbot Leofric and Cnut are correct the bequest must have been made between c.1022 and c.1029 and this cannot be the famous Godgifu, the wife of Earl Leofric of Mercia, as he did not die before 1057, nor the Godgifu, wife of Earl Siward". However, _Liber Eliensis_ was composed late in the 12th century, so that accuracy of chronological detail long before is hardly to be expected.

There is no other reference to an earl's widow named Godiva in the text, and none at all to Earl Leofric. However see next

Peter Stewart posting to Gen-Med 25 Aug 2007 states : "...the same woman with a devotion to the nun Ætheldreth is clearly the subject of a second chapter, no. 83 in book 2 (page 151), as follows:

(Then it remains to establish how the Lord's faithful Godiva greeted Bishop
Ælfric and Abbot Leofric of Ely in writing, and what she determined to lay
before them with regard to her salvation. She expressed herself thus: O my
lords, I, an unhappy woman, with however little prescience I have exerted
myself to save my soul, now that the time of my death is near, since making
amends is allowed me, I put to your reverences what I am arranging to be
done with my possessions and what I am bequeathing to my lady the most holy
virgin Ætheldreth in Ely. This is, the estate of Barking, which is mine by
right of parental inheritance, is granted in perpetuity, in order that my
memory may be held amongst them always).

"Blake noted to this passage, "Perhaps the same as the Godgifu of ch. 81" -

this seems more than likely to me - "The bishop is probably Ælfric II of
Elmham who succeeded sometime after 1022 and died in 1038...and the outer
limits for the date of this bequest are no more closely defined than by the
probable dates of Leofric's tenure of the abbacy 1022 x 1029".

"Given the specific indications twice over that this Godiva lived in the time

of Abbot Leofric, and the account that she wrote to him and to a named
bishop who was dead in 1038, it appears that Godiva the countess of Earl
Leofric of Mercia cannot be the woman in question. The late 12th-century
monk was probably taking his information from records, copies or originals,
held in the abbey, including this lady's will that he mentioned as written
in English and perhaps her letter that if quoted directly was a separate
document, or maybe a translation prepared for her in Latin because it was
intended for important churchmen and not for her family.

"It's also possible that this Godiva was childless, since "infelix" used by

women can mean "barren" as well as "unhappy", and that might make sense in
the context of her testament, although describing oneself as miserable over
not being better prepared spiritually for the afterlife was conventional. "

Note: that the combination : Easter, Fambridge and Terling is also represented in that same sequence on the spurious charter S1051 here (wsj)

Terry Booth, in a posting to Gen-Med 2 Sep 2007 states : "The person referred to in the Godgifu 'Liber Eliensis' record may be St. Æthelthryth of Ely, from whose worship apparently derives the word 'tawdry'. The following Domesday record also suggests that Godgifu of Ely may have survived to the time of King Edward, since she would seem a match to this Rendlesham, Suffolk property owned by Hervey de Bourges TRW.

Godgifu, a free woman commended half to St Æthelthryth [of Ely] and half to Eadric of Laxfield , held Rendlesham with 60 acres as a manor. Then 2 ploughs, now 1; 2 acres of meadow. 1 villan. Then as now worth 20s. 1 free man and half a [free man] under the same commendation [held] 10 acres and half a plough in the same valuation. Bernard d'Alençon holds this from Hervey [de Bourges]. William [Malet] was seised thereof on the day on which he died. It is 1 league long and a half broad. In geld 14d. (from Little Domesday, Folio 443v). Link

An alternate translation of this same record, from 'Domesday Book and the Law', Robin Flemming; 1998; Cambridge, page 444 reads : "Hervey de Bourges, Rendlesham. TRE Godgifu, a free woman half commended to Ely and half to Eadric of Laxfield, held sixty acres of land in Rendlesham. Now Bernard d'Alencon holds it from Hervey de Bourges. William Malet was seized [of it] on the day he died."

DNB is Dictionary of National Biography. The article 2, 376 is "Bernard (fl 1093) of Neufmarche" which I extract, in part, next.

Dictionary of National Biography (1922), 2, 376, "Bernard (fl. 1093), of Neufmarche (de Novo-mercatu), often called in English 'of Newmarch,' was the son of Geoffrey, son of Thurcytel, lord of Newmarche by the forest of Lions, and of Ada, daughter of Richard of Hugleville....He married the daughter of Osbern, son of Richard Fitz Scrob, the Norman lord who built his castle in Herefordshire before the Conquest....He married, probably as his second wife, Nest, the daughter of another Nest, daughter of Gruffyydd ap Llewellyn and his English wife Ealdgyth, though it is possible that the elder Nest was the wife of Osbern, and that her daughter was the only wife of Bernard....The date of his death is not known....In spite of the pious benefaction made by Nest to her husband's priory, her wickedness caused her son Mahel the loss of his father's estates. Mahel caught her lover coming from her, and beat and mutilated him. In revenge Nest went to King Henry and swore that her son was not the son of her husband Bernard. The king...made Nest's daughter Sibyl...heiress...and gave her in marriage to Miles FitzWalter, constable of Gloucester...." The article cites it's authorites as : "Giraldus Cambrensis, Itin. Kambriae, i. 12; Orderic, 606; Florence, 1088; Anglo-Sax. Chron. 1088; Brut y Tywysogion, 1091; Chron. de Bello, 34, 35; Monasticon, i. 545, iii. 264, 245; Freeman's Norman Conquest, iii. 132, v. 109, and William Rufus, i. 34, ii. 89-91."

Itin. Kambriae is Giraldus Cambrensis' work 'Itinerarium Cambriae ("Journey through Wales") writen in 1191. Giraldus lived from 1146 to 1223 and did not begin to write until these events were several decades in the past.

ASC is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle which I've transcribed above and which does *not* show this connection at all

CCN is Century Cyclopedia of Names, a very poor source for such an important connection

NGSQ is the National Genealogical Society Quarterly fully-cited on this page far below

James Grout, "Lady Godiva," part of the Encyclopaedia Romana. Which, among other things claims the Chronicle ascribed to Florence was actually writen by John of Worcester from 1124 to 1140 instead of Florence who died 1118. This attribution would allow relaxing her dates, since she could be as much as a generation younger than previously thought.

"Among his other good deeds in this life, he and his wife, the noble countess Godgiva, who was a devout worshipper of God, and one who loved the ever-virgin St. Mary, entirely constructed at their own cost the monastery there [Coventry], well endowed it with land, and enriched it with ornaments to such an extent, that no monastery could be then found in England possessing so much gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones." The Chronicle of John of Worcester: The Annals from 450 to 1066 (1995) edited by R. R. Darlington and P. McGurk, translated by Jennifer Bray and P. McGurk (Oxford Medieval Texts)

The 1985 EB has this to say

fl c 1040-1080, Anglo-Saxon gentlewoman famous for her legendary ride while nude through Coventry, Warwickshire

Godiva was the wife of Leofric, earl of Mercia, with whom she founded and endowed a monastery at Coventry. The chronicler Florence of Worcester (d. 1118) mentions Leofric and Godiva with respect, but does not refer to the ride. There is no evidence connecting the rider with the historical Godiva.

The earliest extant source for the story is the 'Chronica' (under the year 1057) of Roger of Wendover (d. 1236). He recounts that her husband, in exasperation over her ceaseless imploring that he reduce Coventry's heavy taxes, declared that he would so if she rode naked through the croweded marketplace. She did so, her hair covering all of her body except her legs. Ranulf Higdon (d.1364) in his 'Polychronicon', says that as a result Leofric freed the town from all tolls save those on horses. An inquiry made in the reign of Edward I shows that at the time no tolls were paid in Coventry except on horses. A later chronicle assets that Godiva required the townsmen to remain indoors at the time fixed for her ride. Peeping Tom, a citizen who looked out his window, apparently became a part of the legend in the 17th century. In most accounts he was struck blind or dead.

Schwennicke ES Vol II,78 states : "King Harold II, married 1065 Ealdgyth of Mercia. widow of Griffith ap Llywelyn, king of Gwyned and Powis, daughter of Earl Alfgar. Then it gives the children of Harold II but they are by Eadgyth Swannesha." [courtesy of Leo van de Pas]

History of the Norman Conquest, by Edward Augustus Freeman is online in Google Books. Volume VI is an index of the rest of the set and in particular we can see here on page 104 that there are ten references to Godiva:

Freeman citing Domesday 244, 244b states "Two women hold lands in "alms" Eadgyth who kept her own estate, and Leofgifu the nun, whose lands had been held T.R.E. by Godgifu, the widow of Leofric"

Paulvheath recommends in a posting to Gen-Medieval 14 Aug 2007 the book "Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings and Nobles" by W G Searle (1899), stating "He summarized the information known about Anglo-Saxon genealogies up to that time and carefully cited his sources, which can therefore be checked."